Streaming Platforms

Youtube

http://youtube.com

Summary

Youtube is a great, free platform for hosting instructional videos, especially if you want to create libraries of on-demand resources for your students.

Pros

  • Universally recognized
  • Unlimited storage
  • Easy to use
  • Fast uploading times
  • Ability to create playlists to group videos for courses/modules
  • Works great on any device
  • Advanced online video editor
  • Generates an automatic closed caption track that can be edited for accuracy
  • Embraces the open web

Security

  • Youtube has three security settings for videos and playlists:
  • Public videos and playlists can be seen by and shared with anyone.
  • Private videos and playlists can only be seen by owner and the users the owner chooses.
  • Unlisted videos and playlists can be seen and shared by anyone with the link.
Feature Unlisted Private Public
Can share URL Yes No Yes
Can be added to a channel section Yes No Yes
Shows up in search and related videos No No Yes
Posted on your channel No No Yes
Shows in Subscriber feed No No Yes

Cons - If you are comfortable with Youtube's security settings, there is very little not to like about the platform.


Vimeo

http://vimeo.com

Summary

Vimeo is very similar to Youtube, with more security settings and advanced customization. It is an excellent platform used by many documentary film makers and independent artists.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Fast uploading times
  • Ability to create playlists to group videos for courses/modules
  • Works great on any device
  • Add closed captioning file
  • Create Custom URLs for videos
  • Advanced security
  • Allow videos to be downloaded

Security

  • Vimeo has a few more security settings than Youtube.
  • Anyone - videos are Public
  • Only me - videos can only be seen by owner
  • Only people I follow - videos can only be seen by owner and Vimeo users the owner follows
  • Only people I choose - videos can only be seen by owner and selected Vimeo users
  • Only people with a password videos can only be seen by people with a correct password
  • Only people with a private link - videos can only be seen by people who have the link (Plus account only)
  • Hide this video from Vimeo.com - videos can be embedded on other sites but can't be viewed on Vimeo.com (Plus account only)
  • For more on Vimeo's security settings see their Privacy Settings Overview

Cons

  • Free Vimeo account only allows 500MB/week of storage and 25GB/year. However, the Plus plan is very affordable at $60/year and allows 5GB/week and 250GB/year.

Google Drive

http://drive.google.com

Summary

Some power Google users may find Google Drive a convenient way to share videos. The benefit of using Google drive vs. youtube is that you can stay within the Google Drive environment and there is less chance of someone stumbling across your videos.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Fast uploading times
  • Ability to add videos to a folder and share
  • Works great on any device
  • Allows videos to be downloaded

Security

  • Security settings for video on Google Drive are similar to those on a Google Doc.
  • Specific people - Allow specific people with Google account to view your video
  • Anyone with a link - Anyone with a link can view your video, but it is not searchable Additionally, you can allow anyone with a link to:
    • View only
    • Comment
    • Edit (applies only to video information, since Google Drive doesn't have any online editing tools.)
  • Public - Anyone can search on Google and view your video

  • Disable downloading - for each of the above security settings, you can disable downloading of your video

Cons

  • Slower encoding time
  • Less intuitive sharing features than other platforms
  • Free Google Drive account is limited to 15GB. You can upgrade to 100GB for $1.99/month.

Tip

Pro tip: share a Google folder to your class that has all the videos in it. Here is an example: goo.gl/WoY6uG


CASA Cloud

CASA Cloud

Summary

CASA Cloud is a basic cloud storage platform developed at UH in the Center for Academic Support and Assessment. It is available to faculty to use for file storage and sharing, including video.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Fast uploading times
  • No storage restrictions
  • Host any type of file
  • No new account needed / uses Cougarnet ID
  • Ability to restrict access to Blackboard users
  • Works on any device

Security

  • Public - Anyone can view publicly
  • Restricted
  • Blackboard - Accessible only from a link within a Blackboard course
  • CASA - Accessible only from a link within a CASA course

Cons

  • Cannot create playlists, channels or share folders

Screencast.com

http://screencast.com

Summary

Screencast.com is a great platform from Techsmith, the company that makes Camtasia, Snagit, and Jing. While the storage and bandwidth are limited on the free version, it is a great way to quickly share videos from any Techsmith application.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Fast uploading times
  • Fast Encoding times
  • Add closed captioning file
  • Ability to create playlists to group videos for courses/modules
  • Ability to replace a video without changing the shared link
  • Allows commenting

Security

  • Public
  • Hidden
  • Password Protected
  • Authenticated

Screencast-o-matic

Screencast-o-matic.com